White House to dedicate Harvey Milk stamp

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The White House will dedicate a Harvey Milk stamp on its first day of issue.

The “forever” stamp — valid for first-class postage even in the event of price hikes — was to be issued May 22. It features a photo of Milk, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, taken in 1977, the year he made history when he became the first openly gay elected official from a major U.S. city.

“Milk’s achievements gave hope and confidence to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in the United States and elsewhere at a time when the community was encountering widespread hostility and discrimination,” the U.S. postal service said in a statement.

In November 1978, Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed by a former colleague of Milk’s on the Board of Supervisors. Memorial services for Milk, a secular Jew, were held at congregations Sha’ar Zahav and Emanu-El. — jta